Chapter 79. Bow down (1)
chirping.
It feels like the whole forest is filled with chirping.
A chirping sound that sounded like the sound Coco used to make when she was a duckling, or like a whistle, continued quietly through the morning dew in the forest.
In fact, many birds visited Kairis’ palace. Small birds would often land on the terrace railings or floor to rest.
On days like that, Lucy always took the lead. When the white cat, who had already learned how to lower her posture even though she had never been taught, cautiously approached the terrace, Anne would usually follow behind her.
However, the hunts that the two go on together always end in failure. This is because Anne, who runs rashly behind Lucy, crouching down and looking at the time, puffs up her body. The birds, startled by the fluffy gray furball, would quickly leave the spot.
After that, they always hug each other. I heard Lucy say something that seemed to be a bit harsh on Anne. Of course, it wasn’t something to worry about. Plantz knew very well that the pain would soon end with the forgiveness of Lucy, who hugged Anne, who was making a sullen noise and tapping her foot as if apologizing, and trimming her gray fur that was longer than mine.
“There are a lot of new sounds. I think Lucy and Anne would have been very excited if they were there.”
As I was quietly listening to the birds chirping and thinking about the two cats, I heard Reric’s words. It seems that Relic also thought of cats at that moment.
So, Plantz took out a memory that had been coming to his mind when he thought of cats and shared it with Reric.
“Worse.”
“A warbler? Is that the sound of a bird like that?”
“okay.”
It was a mountain warbler, which was said to be more common than the blue warbler, whose name I was familiar with but had never actually seen or heard. It was a song that was said to be quite different in color from the much-prized blue warbler, but the sound was very similar.
“It’s a pretty name. I think it’s a small bird.”
“It was small. It was pretty.”
I was told that the blue warbler was much prettier.
‘It is the cry of the mountain warbler.’
A small bird with bright yellow stripes that chirped prettily while rolling its pitch-black eyes. The memory of the day I learned the name of such a bird continues.
Of course, that wasn’t something I learned from a book. In addition to the two cats living on the 4th floor of Chermil Palace, another cat living on the 3rd floor, a black cat that only barked instead of making cute noises, told me this.
‘Oh, there it is. I thought it was only found in Secretia, but I’m glad to see it here too.’
Because in the book, you don’t even see the sound of birds or the joy of seeing them.
‘My brother even knows the names of all the birds.’
‘no. Although I don’t know everything. ‘Because it’s a sea pine.’
‘Is it because of the three names?’
‘Rather than that, it’s a bird I remembered. I don’t know all the birds that Sejak uses by name. Still, I know very well that that guy is a warbler. Just like my brother used to say, I just do it too. ‘It just so happened.’
What Kalyan said on the way to meet Danu.
Until then, I didn’t understand why Calian acted as if he had memorized the sound and appearance of the warbler exceptionally well, or why he listened to its sweet chirping as a ‘call’, but now I understand.
I don’t know if it’s okay to think I know that.
“Do you know everything I don’t know? It’s amazing…”
Relic, who handed me the thickest jacket he had brought with him, answered like this and then closed his mouth as if he was shocked. Then he hurriedly spoke again.
“No… I’m not saying it’s natural for you not to know, I’m just saying…”
“I didn’t misunderstand.”
“I’m sorry, my Majesty. I will be careful what I say.”
He was genuinely surprised that Planz, who had lived only in the royal palace, knew something unexpected, and was surprised that his words might have been meant to be dismissive.
Even though I said I didn’t misunderstand.
Rather than being a servant, he is just a person with a status slightly lower than that of a prince. To be more precise, his attitude is significantly different from that of the son of a duke who claims to be Calian’s closest protector.
Of course, the baby elephant is strange, not Relic. Jan also knows that Kalian may have changed to what he is now after becoming ‘Kalian’, but underlying it all, he has a mindset that is not much different from that of a prince. So I know full well that Reric will never be able to treat Planz as comfortably as Jan. still.
“I’m not telling you to be careful.”
Let’s spread the word that we can’t eat green peppers with such care, and let everyone know that we have a hard time filtering out uncooked onions. Even though we had a meal together, my eyes were swollen the next day.
The violin melody that I finally know who played it and the quiet song of my younger brother, who I don’t know what moved my heart. After falling asleep while listening to those sounds, unlike Plants, who had had a good night’s sleep for the first time in a long time, he looked blank and pretended like nothing had happened, making a mistake when speaking.
“You don’t have to pay attention. I know you were worried.”
What can I do?
Even if I can’t teach Anne how to hunt birds, I have to teach Reric how to care about his superiors.
Because Calian was so incredibly angry, Hina, who suddenly came by, must have scolded Plantz to a great extent. Moreover, he must have been told by Jan to stay calm and not make a fuss like last time. For one reason or another, I couldn’t say anything more and the worries I had been suppressing were finally fading away.
“You…”
What the hell.
To become a high-ranking attendant at Chermil Palace, does everyone have to shed tears so easily?
“Don’t get hurt… I’m begging you, sir.”
When I told him to worry, I looked at the attendant for a long time, who obviously had as many tears as my little brother, although he may not be like a baby elephant who changed the pleasant sound of birds into cries of guilt.
I was crying, but it was because I didn’t know how to comfort him.
I just watched Calian cry, and Bern also watched Flanz cry. Lucy always tidied Anne’s fur when she cried, so she didn’t know how to make a hairless person stop crying. The tangerine scent permeated the tips of Hina’s hair, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t hug Relic like she did with Kalian.
Did I tell you for no reason that you can worry?
So, I thought about this for a while again.
-…… Pat.
I remember Alan doing that to me sometimes.
I quietly stretched out my hand and patted Relic’s shoulder.
He was so shocked that he thought his heart was stopping and wanted to run right away, but Kyrie stopped him, and he couldn’t even say he was worried because Prince Calian was with him. After taking the empty dishes and cleaning them up, I came back to look at him, but he seemed to be asleep, so I didn’t look any further. They said they couldn’t do it.
I quietly listened to the words that were interrupted and repeated several times. But the words started to flow in a slightly strange direction. It seemed like Reric didn’t even know what he was talking about.
“There are the Vulcan crew, Prince Calian, and the knight Sir Bern. Siren too. So, sir, please take care of yourself. I heard you are weak and not good at fighting….” “
… … who.”
“Your Majesty…”
“No. Someone told me I was weak.”
“… everything… was like that.”
“…… under.”
ah.
I should have just told him to leave.
Chimi suppressed her frustration and only moved her hands.
– Pat pat.
I comforted Relic, who was even more worried, for a long time, not realizing that the crown prince’s hand that was patting my shoulder was straining.
Even if it’s unfair, I really am.
I must.
Definitely.
“Okay. Stop crying.”
“Yes… I’m sorry…”
“I’m not asking you to apologize.”
“I know… I’m sorry…”
“… Ha.”
I will definitely take the path of the sword.
no.
I will come next after Kirie.
…… no.
Next to Kyrie and the Little Duke.
– Pat pat pat.
anyway.
It will definitely go up.
* * *
Humming.
I feel like I want to hum to fill the entire forest.
A humming sound that seemed to stay in one’s ears and another’s mouth continued softly through the early morning wind in the forest.
It’s just humming, with no lyrics and an unclear melody, with an overly ordinary melody to be called Secretia’s song. It was a sound that she would have heard anywhere in Kairis at some point, so Demirea didn’t pay much attention to it. Since he had not forgotten Plantz’s warning not to hum Secretia’s song just in case, Calian was already paying that much attention.
– Are you feeling better?
Hina, who was just listening to the sound Kalian made in his mouth, asked. Calian, who climbed on top of Raven and slowly walked forward while holding the reins, nodded.
“of course.”
Hina smiled like a small breeze and moved her hands again.
– Anyone who sees it will think that the prince or his younger brother has grown taller.
I didn’t know yesterday because it was dark and I didn’t have time to see Hina properly, but I knew it clearly today. One day, the small, white shoes I gave as a gift were stained with dirt, so I wiped them and looked up to find out. Even though he bent his head less than before, he was making eye contact with Hina.
Obvious. Even if I keep my eyes on it, there is no way I can’t notice the change in our Hina, for whom I am just grateful.
okay. What should I hide?
Our Hina is tall!
So, it’s Hina. It’s Hina. Should I buy you new clothes? Should I buy you new stirrups to match your height? Should I buy you new, prettier shoes? Or should I buy you a new desk in your office? Hina, who was making a fuss like this, answered. Since it has grown to the size of a grain of barley, there is nothing new to buy.
‘So, don’t be happy that you don’t have to worry about a birthday present, but think again.’
Adding as if driving a wedge.
– Do you like it that much?
Although it may not be enough to ease the worry about birthday gifts, it is true that he is in a good mood, so Calian smiles brightly, having already forgotten everything that happened the previous day.
“Yes. It’s okay, Hina.”
– It hasn’t grown much.
“Growing taller is not a good thing.”
Again, bad luck.
Calian, with a slightly wider smile, continued speaking.
“You liked it when I said I grew taller. That’s why I like it.”
It’s a sight that might make someone who doesn’t know them ask, ‘Hina’s father is very young-looking,’ but I can tell you clearly that Hina is older than Kalyan. Like Plants, they don’t have an ambiguous age difference where they are the same age for a few months a year. I can’t get rid of her, she’s just my older sister.
Because of this, Demirea shook her head with a small sigh, and Hina just laughed. It was so good that Kalian hummed again.
It was quick to get past the protective shield, which would not have taken long to disappear, and to where the moving magic circle was. It was a distance that didn’t take too long to walk. Still, I stopped the conversation just in case. I ran straight to the place where the moving magic circle was.
“Wouldn’t it be difficult for you to die alone?”
“yes I’m fine.”
“Maybe even the knight Lord Bern should have come with us.”
“I’m not your older brother. Don’t worry, Demirea.”
Demirea, who had been worried about Calian’s way back to the carriage alone even before departure, expressed concern again. Calian patted Dmirea’s back as if it was okay and quickly placed them on the moving magic circle.
I wanted to move with them until the end of the schedule, but I couldn’t because of the wounded in Balkan and the nobles who would flock to Siegfried. The only person who could heal the wizards was Hina, and the only person who had to deal with the visiting nobles ‘politically’ was Demirea.
– Please be careful. If you have any problems, please call me.
“I understand. So don’t overdo it, Hina.”
– Don’t worry about me.
Hina smiled and waved her hand, and Demirea slightly lowered her head. Only after Calian received both greetings did the magic circle light up.
– Ugh!
The two of them disappeared along with the sensation of magical energy fluttering.
Calian turned back, looking a little relieved and a little disappointed. And instead of getting back on the Raven, he greeted the wizards in the mobile magic circle and came out of the barrier.
– Jabak.
One step like that.
– Ja-bak, jap-a-bak.
Two steps.
And three steps.
The sound of footsteps becomes increasingly quiet.
The sound of footsteps gradually disappears.
One step, two steps without a sound. Calian, who continued to move his feet with Raven following him without holding the reins, looked back for a moment. It was confirmed that the barrier of the mobile magic circle was obscured by the forest and became invisible.
Calian turned his head after confirming that there was ‘no one around’. Red lips draw a long arc.
“Come out. Stop hiding.”
As if in response to a thin voice directed into the sky, blue appeared where there had been no one before. A icy blue light that did not resemble forest dew or wind in the slightest appeared as if drawn.
“Yes, my prince. I will stop hiding.”
Then, an answer was heard from a voice that was significantly different from Calian’s.
After the bright blue hair was revealed, a pale face that would not have been thought of as someone who had spent such a long time in the desert appeared as if floating in the air. As I frowned for a moment at the sight of this little girl who was so difficult to look at, white robe hems, fingers, legs, and shoes appeared one after another.
Calian, who was watching this, said with a look of horror on his face.
“I never asked you to follow me, Lord Hertz.”
“Yes. It’s true that I followed along on my own.”
“why.”
“I came because I was worried that I might be attacked alone on the way. However, I came secretly because I thought he would reject me if I offered to go with him. If any more harpies appear around the carriage, even the knight Lord Verne will have to deal with them, so everyone except me went to the carriage. “I left it alone and left it alone.”
I told him that he was doing well on his own, and he even took care of my worries.
Calian, who had added an explanation in advance in case people were concerned about the carriage, took Demirea and Hina and rode to the magic circle, while Crazy Tagari, who followed him by teleporting in a state of invisibility, explained diligently.
“…I think I know how you feel.”
Calian muttered.
Well anyway. Because it is true that you are very weak.
At least my brother will feel less unfair than me.
“Anyway, if someone else shows up in this situation, I won’t be able to deal with them. It’s not like I haven’t experienced what happens if you don’t have something on your back.”
“Maybe you don’t know.”
“Anyway, it’s okay… how’s your shoulder?”
“Prince, are you worried about me?”
“If you are disappointed that the hole was closed quickly, I am asking if you would like me to make another one.”
Whether it’s your shoulders or your head. Anywhere.
“No, it’s okay, prince.”
“I’m fine too.”
Arsene looked at Calian at these words.
Because the two of us were finally able to talk together after the battle between one horse and eighty-seven men in the forest north of the palace. Saying that he was worried was only half an excuse; in fact, it was Calian’s first forgiveness to Arsene, who followed him because he wanted to apologize.
“Instead, don’t greet me like you don’t know me like that. It wasn’t very nice.”
Of course, without forgetting the warning.
“I will never greet you again like I don’t know you.”
“Okay. That’s it then.”
“Yes, my prince.”
Arsene grinned.
And then he opened his mouth again.
“Prince, do you remember a child named Sia?”
“Why Sia all of a sudden?”
Arsene’s explanation soon followed.
Danu, who was standing in front of Sispanian, looked exactly like Sia. Hearing this, Calian frowned and muttered.
“… I said he was a special child. It seemed like he was a child that Danu had met before.”
Unlike other elves, Sia had a middle name and last name similar to humans. He also had a special way of speaking and that was why he once told me about his conversation with Danu. It is not clear why they say that Sia and Danu resemble each other.
“By any chance, prince. If that child is not what you see…”
“Don’t worry. I’m not that soft of a person.”
“Are you sure you can cut it?”
“If Danu deceived me by pretending to be an elf child who knew nothing. I should cut him down. Of course.”
Because I hate being deceived.
Calian added this and nodded. The reason for the resemblance between Sia and Danu is not yet clear, so it was meant to be kept in mind for now.
“Have you been to Whitlin Estate?”
“There was no special movement within the castle.”
“I thought there was a fight. I could smell blood on you.”
“Ah. That’s not the smell I got from fighting, prince. Nothing happened in Whitlin, except.”
“but?”
“I saw something on the way.”
Calian stopped for a moment and looked at Arsene.
Then Arsene pointed to a point in the distant forest and opened his mouth.
“There was something interesting a little far away from here in the forest over there, so I took a quick look around.”
Because it’s fun.
“Is there a place where harpies were raised?”
“Rather, it looked like the harpy had been dragged there and released. There were many traces of bodies around.”
Calian lowered his eyes for a moment.
“When you say traces, does that mean they were all eaten?”
“Yes. I saw the harpy’s feathers and traces of the body. There were traces of a chain being dragged around, but there was no chain. I think it may have been recovered during the fight. That’s why I didn’t go looking for it since there was nothing left in that place. It would be better. Even if you check again, I think you’ll end up skipping a meal instead of providing evidence.”
Kalian wasn’t one to skip meals no matter what he saw, but he nodded.
“So, that means someone dragged the harpy there and released it.”
“I think so too.”
“… That means it’s not Danu.”
Calian the day before had certainly suspected that Danu had sent the harpies by opening a path through the forest. Since all of Zeon’s warriors have come to the forest so far, the Harpy must have done the same. So, you went to Danu and tried to threaten him, right?
However, the ‘humans’ unleashed the harpies.
On the short forest path between the moving magic circle and Whitlin territory.
“Is it Rashid Briesen?”
Arsene grinned at the quiet murmur.
“I thought the same thing, Prince.”
“Because he’s the only one who will tie our feet and buy time.”
Calian responded like this and continued to move his feet without saying a word.
I passed by the place where the defense shield had already disappeared, and before I knew it, I was ready to leave and reached the place where the waiting party was. And then to the place where the carriage was.
Calian, who briefly greeted Randel and entered the carriage, opened his mouth as he looked at Plantz, who was ready to leave.
“older brother.”
“why.”
A playful smile appeared in Calian’s eyes.
“Please trade with me.”
Two objects in those hands.
Eila’s and the one I took from the warrior I met in Shurinz.
Plantz frowned when he saw the two magic tools for disguise.
