Chapter 109: On the Other Side of the Abyss (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 109: On the Other Side of the Abyss (4)
Marquis Evan Brissen, having stayed just long enough to maintain appearances, left the venue.
Soon after, someone approached Franz and whispered in his ear. Upon hearing the words, Franz departed with an expression of sheer annoyance. At this rate, he might as well have been openly declaring his intent to prepare for the war over the crown prince’s seat.
Alan, who had been quietly observing the scene, remarked offhandedly, "It seems I was the only one unaware that Your Majesty's life was hanging by a thread."
"What are you talking about now?"
"Just look at Prince Randel and Marquis Brissen. They look as if they're about to turn the kingdom upside down. I’d believe it if someone told me they were marching off to a war for the throne itself, let alone the position of crown prince."
They were acting with utter disregard for the young, promising king who was still very much alive and watching them.
"Is it because your position has been precarious for so long that you feel nothing at all?"
"Precarious—that is the perfect word for it. Pfft, hahaha!"
It had been some time since Alan Manasil had spoken his mind so freely, and Suleiman, sitting beside him, burst into a fit of laughter.
"Do you intend to just let Prince Randel and Evan act so recklessly?"
"With his position being so precarious, how could His Majesty possibly have the energy to worry about that? Cut him some slack."
Lemain couldn't blindly take Calian's side, nor could he feel at ease watching such behavior. But Alan couldn't just sit by while his precious disciple shouldered every burden alone, and knowing this, Suleiman was more than happy to fan the flames.
"Please, both of you, shut your mouths."
Of course, if a simple request like that could shut them up, they wouldn't have spoken as if they’d been waiting for this very moment.
"Since we've already brought in those big, gentle fellows, why don't I just step forward? It won't take long."
"That's the best thing I've heard all day. Sweep them all away and come to my territory. I'm exceptionally good at defending, so I'll hide you well!"
It was a blessing this was a ballroom.
If not for the musicians' melodies and the crowd's chatter, the only sound at their table would have been that of throats running dry.
Lemain frowned slightly and replied, "I get it, so please, just stop."
With an Archmage and a Sword Master on either side of him, the stomach of the utterly ordinary human caught in the middle was turning inside out. No one else in the room could have known what terrifying words had just been exchanged at this table, where three of the great pillars supporting Kairis were gathered.
Sensing Lemain was truly at his limit, Suleiman thankfully changed the subject.
"I heard the First Prince got caught trying to pull something big?"
Ah.
Perhaps the previous topic was better after all.
At the thoughtless question directed at Alan, Lemain clutched his forehead once more. Alan, unbothered, simply nodded. "He was caught red-handed by my precious disciple. Indeed, indeed."
"Come to think of it, you really lucked out with your disciple. And look at this! Your disciple is so quick with his hands, swinging his sword without a moment's hesitation…!"
Suleiman, who had been speaking animatedly, suddenly widened his eyes. "By the way, is the First Prince still alive? If he was caught by your disciple, it must have been hard for him to escape in one piece."
"My soft-hearted disciple wouldn't raise a hand so recklessly. Don't worry. He is alive and well."
Calian had not yet told Alan that Randel had withered the roses. He needed time to organize his own thoughts first. Had Alan known, he would never have said, "Don't worry, he is alive and well."
Unable to endure any more of their banter, spoken in complete ignorance of the truth, Lemain finally rose from his seat.
"Leaving already, Lemain?"
"Have a good rest."
At Suleiman's blatant remark, Alan offered a farewell smile. In the end, Lemain left behind a deep, heavy sigh and returned to Arpia Palace.
With his departure, only Suleiman and Alan remained at the table.
Suleiman, who had been laughing and chatting just moments ago as if he hadn't a care in the world, quietly took a sip of his wine. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he spoke.
"There are exactly three things in this world that I fear most."
"For the Second Sword of the Continent, you certainly have a lot of fears."
When Alan gave him a look that said what could possibly scare you?, Suleiman elaborated.
"My respected and beloved Serie, and the dog, Yan."
Serie was Suleiman's wife.
And the dog, Yan, was the actual dog named Yan in the Duke's territory. It was so typical of Suleiman to give his son's nickname to a dog, no matter how much the creature resembled him.
"Because of that rascal, I don't have a single intact pair of shoes left."
The Sword Master, who claimed the brown poodle in the Siegfried territory was his second greatest fear, looked at Alan. "And the third is that mouth of yours."
Alan burst into laughter.
"Indeed. Even our lovely prince has acknowledged my mouth."
Despite their age difference of nearly ten years, their mental ages were quite similar. Even before Alan reached the 7th Circle and began to age backward, they had cast aside all formalities and decided to be friends—a friendship that had now lasted for over twenty years.
Having listed all three of his fears, Suleiman paused for a moment before continuing.
"But now, there is one more."
As he spoke, Suleiman's gaze drifted toward Calian's back, some distance away.
"Understandable. Our prince is certainly out of the ordinary."
"I'm not joking. I've never experienced such killing intent before. Even now, it gives me the chills."
Suleiman stroked the faint scar on his neck and continued.
"I really almost died that day."
"I'll take that as a compliment. It means I've raised an excellent disciple."
Whether Suleiman lived or died was of no concern to him. Alan simply replied with a pleased smile.
*
Watching Franz follow Evan outside, Demirea spoke.
"It seems we played our role as a shield quite effectively."
"It was perfect."
Calian expressed his gratitude once more.
At this, Demirea let out a soft hum, turning her head toward him.
"The First Prince's side needs to remain quiet as well."
Calian let out a low chuckle.
Since Demirea was a Siegfried, there was no reason to hide what had happened yesterday. Calian had already told her about his encounter with Randel.
"It won't last forever, but for now, he won't be able to meet with anyone. If he’d intended to kill me right away, he would have made his move yesterday. Since he didn't, we're fine for the time being."
"But you'll have to clash with him again sooner or later, won't you?"
"No matter what lies on the other side of that abyss, I won't lose," Calian replied reassuringly.
Then, with a gentle smile that contrasted sharply with his keen gaze, he spoke.
"I am not an easy opponent, after all."
It was a highly confident and spirited response.
Hearing this, Demirea smirked. "I heard you cried, though."
Ah, this damn baby elephant!
Momentarily speechless, Calian froze before attempting to lie with an incredibly awkward expression.
"I didn't cry."
"I heard your eyes turned red."
"They're always red."
Demirea's face wore the expression of someone looking at a younger sibling hiding candy behind their back. It seemed everyone in the Siegfried family spoke with their faces.
Defeated, and knowing he had to clear up the misunderstanding that he had cried out of fear, Calian answered.
"It was nothing. I just… had a dream."
Hearing this, Demirea stared at Calian's face for a moment. Yan might cry over a nightmare, but Calian was not that type of person.
She spoke, wearing a smile that looked exactly like one Yan sometimes made.
"What a beautiful dream it must have been to make you react like that."
She was asking: what kind of beautiful dream makes you cry not because of the dream itself, but because you woke up from it?
After smiling silently for a while, Calian murmured an answer, as if talking to himself.
"Because it's a dream I will never have again."
*
After leaving Siegfried Hall, still bustling with noise, Calian sent both Yan and Kyrie away and walked alone.
Franz had given him some time to clear his head, and Calian intended to stop hesitating.
He was finally going to meet Chase.
Calian, who had been walking resolutely toward the entrance of Rubia Hall, suddenly paused.
Should I come back tomorrow?
Was it too late?
They were no longer in a position to drink and chat all night as they once had. Was it really all right to just show up unannounced? All sorts of thoughts flooded his mind.
He considered returning to Chermil Palace and trying another time, but he felt that if he turned back now, he would never be able to take this step again. So, he forced his feet to move. His deep blue cloak swayed with his footsteps.
—Eila.
Perhaps it was the cloak, appearing and disappearing with every step, that made him think of the blue warbler.
Through his experience with Eila, hadn't he resolved to cast aside the guise of Bern and live fully as Calian? This time would be no different.
He reminded himself that Chase was not his brother anymore, but just another person who happened to hold memories of Bern. He mustn't forget that. He just needed to share a casual conversation with a smile and then leave.
He kept repeating these thoughts to himself.
And because of that, he failed to notice.
He failed to notice that Chase had already been watching him for a very long time.
"Calian."
Chase, who had been observing his hesitant steps, was the first to call out.
He was standing beneath a large spruce tree in front of Rubia Hall. Deep within the shadow of the massive tree, all Calian could see of him were his feet.
Calian's feet stopped once more.
He had heard the voice and knew where Chase was, but his legs refused to move.
Long ago, when Bern first declared his intention to become a knight, Teilan had tried to break his stubbornness by ordering him to run around the training ground all night. Calian's legs now felt just as heavy as they had on the day he endured that trial and finally won Teilan over.
Step.
Calian lifted his foot and set it down, repeating the motion. Fearing he might stand frozen in place all night, he clenched his fists and forced himself toward Chase once more.
Step.
He filled his mind with the reminder that the person named Bern had been completely forgotten by this world. He must not act foolishly. He could not just abandon everything and go to Secritia.
He knew his name was now Calian.
He knew it.
He knew it so well, and yet…
"…Why."
As Calian drew closer, his eyes trembled.
He lowered his head.
Ah, this was…
Unfair.
This was truly unfair.
Chase was smiling.
"Your hair… why…"
He was smiling, his long hair now cut short.
The memories buried deep in Calian's heart finally burst open.
He remembered Chase protecting him from Devlan's roaring fury. He remembered the smile Chase wore while waiting for Bern to solve a difficult riddle. He remembered the voice that comforted him, carrying him on his back when he fell off a horse for the first time. He remembered the pained expression on Chase's face when he bestowed the knighthood upon him.
On the day everyone died.
He remembered Chase weeping, holding onto Bern as he headed out to block the castle gates.
And he remembered Bern's reply to that Chase.
He remembered himself saying he would be back.
The accumulated weight of those memories was too heavy. In the end, Calian could not hold it in.
For the first and last time, for just this one day, he broke down.
"…Brother."
For the first and last time. Just once.
He wept, held in the arms of Chase, who was telling him to rest.
Because he was so sorry that he could never return.
Like a true fifteen-year-old child, he sobbed with all the sorrow in his heart.
Brother.
Brother.
Brother…