Chapter 121: I Told You Not to Touch (10)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 121: I Told You Not to Touch (10)
Plumes of steam rose into the air as warm water gushed from between the rocks.
Who in the world didn’t enjoy soaking in water just warmer than their own body, closing their eyes in gentle repose?
Two days east of Kairisis lay the Schrintz region, famous for its hot springs and home to a detached palace of the Kairis royal family.
A two-day journey was hardly a burden for the nobility, who often traveled to their own distant territories once or twice a year anyway. As a result, many nobles from the capital frequented Schrintz for leisure and recuperation. However…
"Weren't you worried?"
As Demirea spoke, her face was a canvas of conflicting emotions. If one had to pick the most prominent among them, it would be a look that screamed, Father, how could you do this to me?
Of course, even among family, there were always one or two things that defied understanding.
Yan, for instance, had looked at that bloodthirsty prince and called him "flower-like." He was another incomprehensible sort, but at least he had an excuse—the prince actually looked like a flower. One could just shrug and let that slide.
"Do you really think I wouldn't worry about my own child?"
"If you were so worried, your skin wouldn't be so…" Demirea retorted, staring at Suleiman's smooth, glowing face.
After visiting Lemain and hearing why Demirea had locked the doors, Suleiman had simply asked the king to lend him some money without another word of explanation.
And with that money, he had taken Serie to the hot springs.
Hadn't Demirea told him to rest for a few more days before returning? So he had. He had gone to Schrintz, a mere two days from the capital.
She couldn't comprehend such nonchalance. Demirea's mind was far too rational to understand it.
"It seems you had a very nice rest."
She knew it would have been detrimental for Suleiman, the head of House Siegfried, to remain in an ambiguous position while Siegfried and Brissen clashed over the two princes. In that sense, she understood that he had helped her by simply staying away.
But just look at that face.
How was she supposed to accept that glowing complexion, which showed not a speck of worry—not for his daughter, his family, or his country—as if he had done nothing but enjoy a deep, luxurious rest?
Her thoughts were so plain on her face that Suleiman burst into laughter. Then, letting the playfulness fade, he spoke with a gentle smile.
"Serie told me not to worry, so I didn't."
Demirea had taken the liberty of expanding the meaning of the ‘shield’ Suleiman had permitted her to be. By subtly reinterpreting the concepts of protection and enthronement, she was even tricking herself into believing that helping Calian didn't go against their family's principles.
He hadn’t worried about a daughter like that.
Instead of scolding her, he had trusted her.
Having said his piece, Suleiman looked at Demirea.
"Let me ask you one thing."
"Yes."
"I was quite curious about your reason."
"My reason for what?"
Suleiman took a sip of the clear wine in his hand.
"You're not Yan. I couldn't understand why you'd go to such lengths for the 3rd Prince. I wondered if you were acting based solely on what you saw during his brief visit to the Siegfried territory, or if there was something more. I wanted to know what you saw in him that made you so determined."
Demirea hadn't spent nearly as much time with Calian as Yan had, nor had she grasped his true nature the way Suleiman had. No matter how he thought about it, he couldn't figure out her reasoning.
At his question, Demirea answered without a moment's hesitation.
"Because my brother is smiling."
Yan, who used to wear a face that seemed to carry all the world's misfortunes, had worn a pained expression just before asking her to join hands with Calian. But he had been smiling.
"He's the one who made my brother smile like that, so I thought I'd help him get what he wants. After all, I can handle the consequences of a decision like that."
It was a simple, straightforward reason—very much like Demirea.
Hearing it, Suleiman's mouth stretched into a wide grin. He nodded heartily.
"I'm heading back down tomorrow. Just Serie and me."
"You're returning to the Siegfried territory?"
"Yes. There's no one there right now, so we can't leave it empty for too long. You can handle matters here however you see fit."
Demirea looked at her father, whose entire trip to the capital had consisted of teasing Lemain with Alan, drinking with Alan, nearly getting killed after picking a fight with Teilan, and getting kicked out of the house to go to the hot springs.
"Yes, Father."
He was leaving her alone in the capital.
It meant she was free to decide and act as she pleased in helping Calian. By returning to his territory, he was effectively granting her that authority.
"Thank you."
Demirea offered a faint smile to her father, who was placing his complete trust in her.
* * *
Around the time Suleiman returned from his trip, Calian was suggesting to Franz that he should get a cat.
Lemain, who had instructed Chief Chamberlain Raul to postpone the meeting with the elven delegation, looked down at the vast garden outside his window.
"Are you saying evidence has emerged implicating Tensil?"
Ren, standing behind him, replied, "Yes, Your Majesty. Numerous letters exchanged with the Tensil royal family were found in the bookstore where the man named Nered was staying. The plans to harm the 3rd Prince were detailed inside."
"And there was no mention of anyone else?"
"No, Your Majesty. Only information regarding Tensil was confirmed."
Since the meticulous Ren and the Kaera had conducted the search personally, no evidence would have been missed.
If Calian disappeared, Randel stood to gain the most. And if Randel ascended the throne, Tensil would naturally benefit. The motive was glaringly obvious.
Both the evidence and the circumstances pointed squarely at Tensil.
"Burn it all," Lemain commanded. He had already heard the truth of the matter from Alan.
Of course, Lemain didn't know that one of the dead assassins was a spy from Secritia. That was Alan's consideration for Chase, who had played a major role in the affair.
"Are you sure, Your Majesty? Shouldn't we keep it for future use?"
"It was fabricated by someone else to frame a false mastermind. There's no reason to keep it. Even if other issues arise, we will not use false evidence. Burn it to ash."
Ren did not object. He was as loyal as Siegfried's knight Ronansite, Chase's knight Teilan, or Kyrie.
"Understood. I will handle it as you wish, Your Majesty."
After Ren bowed and departed, Lemain spoke quietly to himself.
"There must be punishment for the two princes and the young duchess."
The world did not know Calian had been attacked.
While Randel had been confined to Chermil Palace for leaving the banquet hall without permission, Calian, who had vanished for nearly a week, could not go unpunished. The same applied to Franz, who had snuck out of the palace in the middle of the night, and to House Siegfried for detaining him.
Of course, Demirea was resolved to take the punishment for House Siegfried herself. However, there was one thing she didn't know: Suleiman knew Lemain, the one delivering the punishment, far better than she did.
"I hear Duke Siegfried is leaving the capital tomorrow," Alan remarked casually, assisting the king as he pondered what to do.
Hearing this, Lemain chuckled.
He wasn't so dense as to miss Suleiman's intention in leaving at such a time.
Soon, Lemain summoned Chief Chamberlain Raul and delivered his instructions.
"For causing a disturbance in the capital, Duke Siegfried is to be expelled from Kairisis tomorrow. His entry is forbidden until the end of the year."
Suleiman would receive the punishment in Demirea's stead.
If being Calian's shield was Demirea's role, then being Demirea's shield was Suleiman's.
"Furthermore, both the 2nd Prince and the 3rd Prince are forbidden from leaving the royal palace. They shall not participate in any external events until permitted."
It was a harsh punishment, but in Alan's eyes, it was protection. There was no place in Kairis safer than this royal palace, which bore the touch of Sispanian.
"The perfect punishment."
Alan, who understood the king's intent perfectly, smiled softly and nodded.
* * *
Yes, they had talked about it before.
He’d said it because every moment trapped in this palace felt like his last, each breath a struggle.
That he didn't want to become king.
That he wanted to live.
Calian probably understood why Franz had said those things. No, he likely understood better than anyone. As a king's son and a king's brother, Calian had spent far more time in the royal palace than Franz had. That was probably why he could empathize and nod along.
Still.
Even so.
No matter how true it was…
Franz recalled the words he had muttered to himself back at the Siegfried mansion.
"My little brother trusts me too much."
He had suspected it, but to just hand over Brissen…
Wasn't that too massive a topic to discuss so casually while peeling a tangerine?
Franz certainly thought so.
"Have you lost your fear? Or are you just that confident?"
From the very first time he’d visited Calian’s room until now, Calian had never once doubted him.
Franz looked at the boy who had lent him the Valkan, saying he would die if he had nothing to defend himself with, and was now trying to hand him Brissen as well.
What makes you trust me so much?
What if I change my mind right now?
"What if I, once again…"
Franz stopped mid-sentence, his mouth snapping shut.
Sensing the sudden silence, Calian paused as well.
He realized what Franz had left unsaid.
A brief, heavy silence fell between them.
"My older brother is incredibly quick-witted," Calian said with a short sigh.
He resumed peeling the sour tangerine, his red eyes fixed on the light green peel.
"Don't think any further than that."
The sharp scent of the tangerine hung in the air. The scent reminded him of a certain person, which was why he hadn't been able to eat it alone and had come all this way. And now, sitting right in front of him was someone else who had realized something he shouldn't have.
"Limit yourself to guessing. Don't try to be certain."
He had no intention of telling Franz about the war, how he had died in it, or who had started it.
It was a past Calian had experienced alone.
Even if Chase remembered it, wasn't it ultimately a meaningless past? Why was Franz trying to piece together something that hadn't even happened in this life, only to torture himself like this?
"...Franz."
Calian closed his eyes for a moment before speaking again.
"It had nothing to do with you."
It had absolutely nothing to do with the Franz of today.
That will never happen again.
Because I will make sure of it.
Franz didn't reply. Calian, blinking slowly, broke off a segment of the tangerine and put it in his mouth. The exceptional sourness brought an involuntary, bitter smile to his face.
After chewing and swallowing, Calian continued, "You said you hated the idea of becoming king, and you'd hate it even more if Brother Randel took the throne and locked us both in a tower. That's why I trust you."
I'm not so naive that I'd trust you blindly. So stop wasting your time on useless thoughts and regrets.
"If you ever change your mind and decide you need the position of Crown Prince, just ask. I'll consider it."
He said this to Franz, who had never once coveted what belonged to others. At that, one corner of Franz's mouth twisted up.
"Insolent brat."
Calian's smile widened. He held out the last remaining tangerine segment.
"Want some, brother?"
Franz let out a quiet, scoffing chuckle and took the tangerine from his hand.
It was sour. So incredibly sour that all the thoughts in his head vanished instantly.
So, what else was there to do?
Forget the useless thoughts and just raise a cat. In Brissen.