Chapter 83. They are just asking for the same thing
(5) .
Just like Calian, who asked to stop thinking to prevent the seal of oath from entering his heart, Plantz is hiding something and not telling Calian, who cannot lie, the truth. He’s just asking that he be completely deceived until this is over.
No one knows what the outcome will be. The world is not a chessboard, and there are no rules for all living things, so it is impossible to calculate all the variables. So, no one knows what the consequences of Plantz deceiving Calian again will be, what will happen to Plantz at the end of the revealed results, and how Calian will react after confirming the results.
It is a method chosen without predicting any outcome. I only know that one fact.
One person chose it because he believed it was the best way.
The other one believed that he had chosen the best way.
Not a single word was exchanged about whether to be deceived or to be deceived, but Plantz made that request and Kalian accepted.
As a result of that acceptance, Calian simply does not notice that his brother is in Arsene’s clutches. Plantz is just trying his best to deceive his brother.
“Lord Hertz. Just a moment.”
“Yes, prince.”
So I didn’t notice. That’s it.
Either way is fine.
* * *
It is good to bend down, and it is also good to stand still. It was nice to be able to lean on each other’s shoulders with our chins on each other’s shoulders when we bent down, and it was nice to be able to hear the sound of breathing in and out when we were standing still.
Of course, it was nice to sit down. I loved the warmth of his hands that quietly patted my back as a habit when I went to him quietly and hugged his neck tightly while he was sitting there.
“It’s been a while, Your Highness.”
“Yeah. It’s been a while.”
A low voice reaching my ears. I liked the low voice, like the left hand accompaniment in a piano melody, like the last raindrops on a day after a long rainy season, like the light of a lighthouse falling on the night sea.
The royal palace of Kairis.
An annex to the Rubia Pavilion.
Arianne, who came rushing back to Rubia’s coffin after hearing that someone unexpected had come, relaxed her arms that were hugging her tightly. And I opened my mouth to the warmth that I thought I would meet at least two months later and the scent that I had longed for.
“How did you get here? Have you already lost your seat?”
Chase, who was sitting on the sofa patting an unknown duck and then falling into his fiancé’s arms, smiled softly.
“I came here secretly so as not to be stolen.”
“When did you come?”
“Last night.”
“Have you been here since last night?”
“I came here secretly, so I have to stay here. It was rude of me to let Lord Castrin in, but King Kairis will be very sorry if he finds out that I came here secretly too.”
“I came knowing it would be a shame.”
“I want to see.”
“Did you miss me?”
“I missed you, of course.”
“me too.”
Arianne took her arms off Chase’s neck and sat down with him, smiling softly.
Teilan, who had followed Arianne in and was waiting for Chase to show respect, finally bowed his head. And after exchanging a few words with Chase, I quietly went out.
“If you had come to see me, I would have told you in advance. If I had known your highness would come, I would not have gone out of the palace.”
“I’m sorry. I came here suddenly so I couldn’t tell you.”
“Because of what I talked to Lord Manasil last night?”
“Yes.”
The evening before, Hina came to visit Arianne.
Alan asked if I could borrow the revised edition because he had something to share with Chase. It was a modified version of Calian anyway, so there was no reason not to lend it. That’s why I readily handed over the revised version.
It seems that Chase, who was talking with Alan through that modified version, just came to Kairis.
“As we were talking, Lord Manasil came to Secretia. We met and I followed him all the way here to meet you briefly and stayed up all night.”
Chase, who spoke with the same regret, raised his purple eyes and looked at Arianne. I stared into Arianne’s eyes, which were like the light from the fireplace reflected in the glass window, and opened my mouth.
“Did you drink all night Arianne?”
Arianne asks her fiancé, whom she hasn’t seen in a long time, if she ran away because her throne was taken from her, or Chase asks her fiancé, whom she really wanted to see, if she came back from a night of drinking. That guy is him.
Arianne smiled and shook her head before answering.
“Lord Castrin has become very close to Duke Siegfried. We exchanged words that I couldn’t understand, and then Baron Siegfried suddenly said he wanted us to talk together. Oh, Baron Siegfried is Duke Siegfried’s wife. She is said to be a spearman.”
“Yes. I heard it from Calian.”
“Yes. But I guess something has happened in a place called Whitlin.”
Chase nodded.
“Duke Siegfried’s family is a bit upset because of that, so the two of you can’t leave the duke’s residence together and come to the palace to talk. So, I had no choice but to join in and stay at the duke’s residence together. Because I can’t stay here alone.”
“That’s right.”
“Yes. While talking about swordsmanship, they suddenly started talking about spearing and how to use a sword and a spear together… They said it was because of the sword that the light green man uses, but that was also difficult to say, so I couldn’t hear it properly. I know law, medicine, and magic. “I don’t know about weapons. Anyway, we were talking about how to use the light green sword better, and it was too late for the palace gate to close. So I just slept there and came back. I didn’t drink.”
I didn’t drink much.
Arianne added quietly and smiled. Chase shook his head as if he had expected it and opened his mouth.
“It seems Lord Castrin is getting along well with Lord Siegfried.”
“We fight lightly and just talk. Anyway, we hang out all the time these days. I also sparred with Lord Hill before he went to Whitlin. Lord Castrin won very easily.”
Even Slayman, Kalian, and Siona.
Wasn’t it Chase who let Theilan in under the pretext that Arianne would attend Lemaine’s birthday festival because the so-called swordsmen were gathered in Kairisis? He even went so far as to disguise Tailan as Chase’s bodyguard, Surveyin.
I was worried about what would happen if there was no income from all that hard work, but it seems I was unfounded. Fortunately, it seems like he is interacting with Sleiman in various ways, so there will definitely be progress.
“I’m glad. It wasn’t for nothing that I separated myself from my fiancé.”
A duck with a blue ribbon whose origins you can’t tell is wandering around Arianne’s room. I could quietly hear the sound of water from the fountain, which was once somber but later changed to refreshing. Chase opened his mouth again to his fiancé, who fortunately was staying in that place without any trouble.
“I was worried that Calian might get bored because he seemed to be away. If he gets bored, come back with me now, Arianne. You can ask Lord Manasil to come back at the right time. “Oh, that’s right
. I wanted to show him around and have fun with him while I was there. Your brother disappears right away and won’t come back. I’m going to forget your face.”
Arianne, who was joking, said, “Ah,” and made an awkward face for a moment. Then, she immediately added an explanation.
“… I can’t even forget it. Is that a face that can easily be forgotten? Right?”
Chase smiled again.
As if to change the subject, Arianne hurriedly said something else.
“Anyway, I’m having fun. I don’t have a sister, but I’m very close with Coco and Lucy comes to visit sometimes. Anne almost never came. It’s fun to help healer Sir Bern and Veronica, and it’s also beneficial to meet and talk with other nobles here. It’s nice to have a drink with Sir Grace sometimes.”
The two cats with impressive names in the old language of Secretia seem to have become friends with Arianne. They also seem to have become friends with the duck with a blue ribbon that says ‘Coco’. People here. I guess things
are going well. Fortunately.
“Anyway, I’m an official visitor here, so it’s strange for me to disappear overnight and then suddenly appear again.” It wouldn’t be good for it to be known that Lord Manasil could come and go from the palace with anyone he wanted. And when your little brother comes back, we should at least play together from then on.”
“Yes. Arianne.”
Chase smiled like the day he walked barefoot on the fine sand. Arianne, who was smiling the same way with a happy face, opened her mouth as if she had just remembered something. “Oh, come to think of it
. They say Serjane is coming here. Do you know, Your Highness?”
“I heard.”
“What are you going to do?”
“What are you going to do?”
“Sergeine sent a letter to Prince Randel asking for a meeting. That’s why I’m coming.”
There was no other answer from Chase. Then Arianne continued,
“You already know why you’re coming, Your Highness.”
“Yes.”
“From your highness’s perspective, it’s better for Serzane to take over Tensil. “I think you and Prince Randel didn’t have a good first impression of each other.”
Chase laughed briefly.
The incident in Brigitte’s Forest when Serjane’s guards tried to kill her. Chase helped clean up that incident. First meeting with Randel. It was a favor that was not exchanged in Esau, so there was no lack of anticipation for when Serjan ascended to the throne in the future.
“It doesn’t matter. Even if Tensil joins hands with the Great Desert, there is no special benefit to be gained from our relationship with Tensil getting better.” ”
I don’t even hope for any benefit. “I did it because I was afraid of losing money.”
“If Prince Randel goes there, we can say hello and get along. There won’t be any loss.”
“Easier said than done.”
“Easy. Is something difficult for me?”
Arianne chuckled at the talented young king’s words.
– Knock knock.
At that time, a small knock was heard.
“Please just wake up. If you stay any longer, there will be chaos in the Sea Kingdom.”
Alan’s voice followed.
Chase took out a silver pocket watch from his pocket. After checking the time that had passed faster than expected, he immediately stood up.
“This is really how I feel . You’ll lose your seat. I have to go.”
Arianne stood up with her. I now remember that I was so happy to see her that I couldn’t even offer her a cup of tea.
Chase stretched out his arm as if he recognized her. He held Arianne tightly in his arms and patted her in regret. I gently knocked.
“Goodbye. I’ll wait.”
“…..Yes. I’ll be back later.”
“Just drink a little.”
“No. I’ll drink whatever I want. You have to play as fast as you can until you have no regrets so you can get married quickly.” A
silent laugh passes through Chase’s cheek resting on his chest.
“Yes. Drink up and have fun, Arianne.”
“Yes. “Your Highness.”
When I hug Chase, who is standing alone, the sound of him breathing reaches my ears.
Any time, any time, a good sound penetrates my ears.
* * *
I kept walking.
There was at least a barracks on the way to Whitlin, but it was like this. It was impossible to carry out such a thing with such a small number of people. It was clear that it would be uncomfortable, but Randel went to sleep in his sleeping bag without saying anything. And Plants and Kirie took turns staying on watch. Until the dawn passed. Randel fell into a light
sleep
. Kirie sat up and looked around, then took turns with Plantz. Until Plantz, who woke up, came to where Kirie was and sat down. As time passed again, the sun rose overhead and Randel and Kirie sat up.
Calian She didn’t say a single word. She
sat quietly with her back against a wooden pillar and the ends of her long hair scattered carelessly on the floor. She didn’t even open her slightly closed eyes, and she didn’t look like she was asleep. I didn’t even tap my fingertips like I was used to. It seemed as if he just sat quietly with his eyes closed and waited for time to pass.
It is fortunate that no one finds this silence uncomfortable. Aren’t Randel, Plantz, and Kirie all very shabby when it comes to conversation? Of course, it was no different because it was Arsene that Planz was imitating. I’m not a person who holds back what I have to say, and I’m not someone who gets itchy because I can’t say anything.
Thanks to this, a very quiet break passed. Calian, who heard the movement of his companions, stood up.
Her untied blue-silver hair falls down and falls back into place. At the same time, light purple sharp eyes appeared in bright blue light.
“Lord Hertz.”
It was the first sound I heard in hours.
Thanks to this, only one person was called, but the eyes of three people fell on Kalian.
Plantz turned his head towards Calian, who did not break his gaze as if he did not care.
“Speak, prince.”
“I heard that Aela handed over one of the witnesses she captured to Lord Hertz. How was it handled? I forgot to check it.”
“It was unsafe to keep him in the lord’s castle prison, so we sealed the room at the end of the hallway and had him monitored from front to back.”
“I can’t keep taking her with me…. On the day Demirea goes up, how about moving some of the crew and escorting her to the capital. Of course, it will be up to you and Lord Hertz to decide.”
“No. I feel the same way. I don’t think you will be any different.”
Calian nodded.
Then he opened his mouth again to Plantz.
“If there is anything special, please let me know. Any time.”
“all right.”
Nod again.
Calian nodded instead of answering and turned around.
Meanwhile, Kirie cleaned up the sleeping bags, finished eating the simple food prepared by the lord’s castle, and rode off again before it was too late.
Calian could no longer keep his mouth shut. I turned my head from above Raven and looked at Randel’s situation, then chatted with Kyrie and joked around with ‘Arsene’ before moving on. The outer castle of the Siegfried Duchy was visible in the distance, but I did not turn towards it. We moved a little more quickly towards the place where the entrance to the elf city was.
It wasn’t that I was being chased or pressed for it, but for some reason, it was just that.
Because I’m in a hurry.
-……many angles.
Raven’s feet, which had continued to move forward, stopped. It was after my eyes reached a place where I could hear the welcome sound of water.
A familiar place.
A not very deep valley and a long cliff at the end. A place where the good familiarity of a rainbow forming in the spreading spray remains.
– Shoot…!
It was a waterfall.
I remember the Balkan crazy guys who went into the water in the valley doing crazy things, saying they were going to start a fire in the water. Because of this, Calian, who was laughing to himself, turned his head.
And then he opened his mouth to Randel, who was probably seeing the scene for the first time.
“When I came during the day, a rainbow was blooming, but it’s a shame. I wanted to show it to Randel.”
“Is there anything to regret?”
Landel, who was looking down at the young moonlight hitting the waterfall and continuously breaking into the valley water, answered quietly.
Are you saying that these things are still free?
Calian is thinking about that in silence.
“If you had come during the day, you wouldn’t have seen the moon above the water.”
“… That’s good. It’s not free.”
“Is there anything good for you?”
“You are my brother.”
Landel, expressionless, turned his head without answering. And then I again took in the sight of the valley, which was still a bit far away.
Calian, who was looking at Randel, looked at Kyrie and Plantz. Regardless of whether there was a delay or not, I went closer to the valley, took a short rest, and opened my mouth to talk.
“Prince.”
however.
Kyrie’s voice, full of caution, called Calian.
Calian, who did not hear the sound like Kyrie but felt the unpleasant energy, let out a short sigh.
“You really are so clueless.”
I thought he would just let it go, but he said he would always come to me at times like this.
Calian grunted, full of complaints.
Before long, a group of people who were not at all welcoming approached Calian. Calian walked slowly and looked around at the people who had stopped, and his bright red lips were drawn up.
“Should I say nice to meet you? Should I say goodbye?”
A growl that echoed through the throat shook the night of the forest.
Light purple eyes looked before me, cooler than the moonlight.
The words that flowed from my lips were directed at Kirie.
“I think it’s over.”
“Yes. They are all.”
“What else did you believe… I wonder if only 30 people came.”
A chill is felt at the tips of the hair, which is like a stream of stars falling in the forest. The deadly force extending from his entire body was directed at Zeon’s warriors who had just found their enemies.
– Ugh…!
The warriors raised their swords.
Calian grinned at that and moved his hand.
“Brother Randel, I’m sure you’ll be fine, so take care of yourself. Kyrie also has Hertz hardness.”
After speaking, a red light appeared on the tip of Calian’s hand.
A bright aura of light, as if it could bite someone’s neck at any moment, swirled along the tip of Calian’s sword.
– Pop.
Right then.
They did something unexpected. The red light on each sword disappeared in an instant. It is said that they extinguished the aura that was in their sword.
What kind of plan is there again?
Calian’s eyes narrowed.
Someone took a step toward Kalian. And he opened his mouth with a smile quite similar to the one Calian had made a moment ago.
“Should I say it’s nice to meet you? Goodbye.”
The words of the other person that seem to have copied exactly what you said. Calian’s eyes shone fiercely at the words of this person who did not seem to have the slightest curiosity about who the unfamiliar blue-silver-haired face belonged to.
“It looks like you’re hiding something. You seem confident.”
“It looks like that.”
“What? Again.”
It’s been a while since I’ve had an opponent that’s more formidable than me, so I was happy and thought I’d fight him face to face. It won’t work.
– Ugh, wow!
– Ugh!
A red sword appeared around Calian.
We can’t afford to see another member of the group get hurt while being distracted by a guy with a plan. So I just made a dagger. I tried to use it and shoot it at the guys.
– Shoo!
But then something unbelievable happened. It felt like an unknown energy was swirling around the group. It felt as if an unpleasant feeling, like a humid and hot midsummer breeze, was passing through everyone from the tips of their feet to the tips of their heads and fingers.
It wasn’t poison.
It wasn’t even a sleeping scent.
– Ugh… Tuk!
No one was hurt by that energy.
but.
The red sword in Calian’s hand disappeared.
It disappeared without a trace.
“…… and.”
The Aurors did not disappear.
The aurors in Calian’s body clearly remained. They were gathering and dispersing repeatedly as they wanted. However, the sword that appeared outside the body, which Kalyan was supposed to create and disturb at will, did not move as he wanted. It was remade, but it soon disappeared again.
Calian, who had not tried three times in vain, lowered his eyes for a moment. But before long, he opened his eyes again and looked ahead. Its eyes, filled with curiosity, admiration, and anticipation, flashed like those of an animal, and it revealed its forged fangs.
“You learned it from the harpy. You.”
The warrior who had spoken to Calian relaxed without answering.
Somehow, I felt like I was full of leisure.
Only 30 people came.
“Lord Hertz.”
“Magic does not appear.”
The answer came as if I had been waiting for it.
They nullify mana. Therefore, ‘Arsene’ cannot use magic. Kirie alone cannot take on thirty warriors. So what should I do?
‘… I tried not to notice.’
Calian turned his head to one side with a face full of regret and opened his mouth. A low voice filled with frost rang out.
“Lord Hertz.”
“Yes, prince.”
No matter what they try, they seem to know that a single knight who has just discovered the Sword Master’s threshold will not be able to deal with them. Plantz answered while looking at the warriors leisurely surrounding Calian’s group.
“Is there a sword in your pocket that you don’t think you will use right now?”
‘Arsene’, who cannot use magic, is excluded anyway. Randel can be placed together with Arsene. Kyrie and Calian can catch them, whether by beating them or stabbing them.
If only Calian had a sword.
“Yes, there is.”
Planz quietly gave his answer.
Then, he took out something long and thin from the hem of his long, wide robe and handed it to Calian.
The world is not a chessboard, and there are no rules for anything living and moving. It is not possible to calculate all variables. So it’s no one’s fault if you can’t calculate the variables.
okay. It’s no one’s fault.
– Percussion!
The handle of the sword touches my hand. I touch Kalian’s hand, which is full of deep, deep scars.
Big palms.
On top of that, a large palm full of deep, deep scars.
“…… under.”
The pure white sword that leaves no trace of life no matter what it cuts strikes me.
Pure white sword. A good sword prepared by Plantz through Chase and Allen. A pure white sword that its past owner never let go of until the last moment.
Bern’s sword.
Calian, holding the sword, raised his head. I smiled. I opened my mouth as I saw Arsene pulling out his sword next to me.
“Thank you.”
Sir Hertz.
