Chapter 124: If Such a Day Comes (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 124: If Such a Day Comes (2)
He was gone.
He had definitely been in the room just a moment ago, but now Franz was nowhere to be seen.
Franz’s attendant, Relic, who had been pacing anxiously—not even daring to breathe too loudly for fear the escort knights outside might hear—let out a sharp gasp. Franz had suddenly appeared on the terrace.
“Your Highness, where have you been?” Relic asked, utterly bewildered.
If Franz had entered through the door, asking where he had been would have been perfectly normal. Relic could have even added a polite, “Welcome back.”
But given the way Franz had just materialized, Relic wasn't sure if that was even the right question to ask.
“What,” Franz replied.
It could have meant what do you mean?, what’s wrong?, or even what did you see?
“It’s nothing, Your Highness.”
Whatever the exact meaning, that nonchalant response was a clear signal to act as if nothing had happened. Having honed his intuition over the years, Relic understood Franz’s brief reply, shook his head, and changed the subject.
“Why,” Franz asked, giving a slight nod.
At times like this, Relic deeply envied Yan, who served the gentle Third Prince. Still, he consoled himself with the thought that Franz was better than the perpetually icy First Prince. With that small comfort, Relic spoke.
“I was going to ask what you would like for lunch.”
“No need.”
Franz rarely ate his meals on time.
Just as Relic was about to voice his concern, Franz strode across the room and threw the door open. He walked out, seemingly uncaring whether the knights followed him or not.
He had gone to the trouble of climbing up to the terrace from somewhere below just to enter his room, only to immediately leave through the door. His face clouding with confusion once more, Relic quickly hurried after him.
* * *
There was another unexpected visitor.
This one arrived after the cat that fell from the sky and the resident of the room above the cat’s owner had both departed.
After saying his piece, Franz had stepped onto the terrace railing and lightly climbed back up. The moment he was gone, the cat scurried out of the room.
“He really does like him more.”
Whether it was because of his personality or his name, Calian couldn’t say.
Before Calian could feel too disappointed by the cat’s blatant favoritism, Merlin entered carrying two cups of tea. He wondered if one of them was for Yan.
In any case, a fair amount of time had passed since Yan had left and Franz had come and gone. It was a little late for her to just be bringing tea. More importantly, it was Merlin, not Yan.
“Where did Yan go?”
“He said he needed to fetch Sir Arsen at once, so he left the tea to me and headed for the Wilhelm Pavilion. He thought you might be bored, Your Highness, and wanted to find you some company.”
“Ah… he really didn’t need to go that far.”
Seeing Calian’s slightly apologetic expression, Merlin quickly relayed her next message.
“Hina left with Lord Kyrie a moment ago. I left word for them to inform you upon their return.”
He had promised to introduce Sia and Hina, but the meeting had been delayed. He had only just now managed to reschedule it and send them off.
Merlin glanced down at the tea in her hands and spoke again.
“Also, Count Manasil is waiting outside.”
At those words, Calian’s eyes lit up. A faint smile touched Merlin’s lips as she watched his reaction. She set the tea on the table, gave a polite bow, and stepped out. Shortly after, the door opened again, and Alan walked in.
“Teacher!”
Calian’s voice was filled with excitement. He had thought he wouldn’t be able to see Alan at all until his confinement ended and the door was finally unlocked.
He beamed brightly once more. Of course, unlike last time, this wasn't a smile with an ulterior motive; he was genuinely happy to see his teacher.
Seeing this, Alan replied with a gentle smile of his own. “If you dislike being cooped up so much, you should take better care of yourself. And don’t even think about cutting down those fellows outside. His Majesty sent them, after all.”
He immediately shot down Calian’s thoughts, as if he had read his mind.
“Ah, and here I was, planning to request a duel in two or three days. Fine, I won’t.”
“You mustn’t beat them into the ground, either.”
“……Yes. I’ll try.”
“I’m glad to hear it. At least you’re willing to try.”
Alan, who knew better than anyone how terrible Calian was at lying, nodded in satisfaction. He then began to sip the sweet milk tea Merlin had left behind.
Alan had never sat and drunk tea for this long without speaking. Sensing something was off, Calian asked with a hint of anxiety, “Is it something difficult to bring up?”
He worried that on top of being confined to his room, forbidden from leaving the palace, and having two human door-locks—who were either guards or watchmen—stationed outside, yet another punishment was waiting for him.
Realizing his silence had caused unnecessary anxiety, Alan spoke. “It’s nothing of the sort. Don’t worry.”
Feeling a bit embarrassed to admit that he was simply enjoying the milk tea, Alan moved on to business with a playful smile.
“Congratulations. It seems you’ve gained a fiancée rather early.”
Having said that, Alan took another sip of his milk tea. Meanwhile, Calian, catching on immediately, asked, “Are you referring to Demirea, by any chance?”
“Indeed. Idle, well-fed mouths always have so much to whisper about.”
Only then did Calian realize that an unintended rumor had sprung up between him and Demirea. He burst into laughter.
“Well, that saves me some trouble.”
It seemed his quick uptake wasn’t for nothing.
“It sounds as though you were planning to start a rumor yourself if one hadn’t already spread.”
“I was. Look at the timing. Marquis Brissen will try to retaliate for this incident by any means necessary. To suppress that, we need an even bigger rumor.”
As he spoke, Calian took a sip of his milk tea at the same time as Alan. A rich sweetness, perfectly fitting for such a sweet rumor, spread across his tongue.
“In fact, I was thinking of borrowing the Siegfried name once more, provided Demirea is fine with it.”
“I’m not sure the Young Duchess will be pleased with this.”
“She’ll love it.”
“What makes you so sure?”
Thinking of Demirea, who was more than fit to become the future master of Siegfried, Calian continued.
“Since Demirea came to the capital and attended the ball with me, the nobles will likely interpret this as Siegfried finally taking an interest in politics. If so, people will be lining up to arrange a match between their children and the Young Duchess, and she would certainly not welcome such attention.”
Thus, Calian had been planning to ask her if they should start a ‘betrothal rumor’—allowing him to quiet his own scandals while letting Demirea escape a flood of unwanted suitors.
“If Demirea is fine with it, I’d rather not clarify the rumor. What did His Majesty say?”
“I was hoping to see you flustered, but you’ve ruined all the fun. How can you speak so calmly about using a rumor that could lead to a political marriage?” Alan grumbled, his expression losing all its amusement.
“Don’t act like that around others. You don’t sound your age.”
Hearing this, Calian’s head snapped back to stare at the ceiling. His voice came out slightly muffled. “There are two more people like that in Chermil. One on the fourth floor of this building, and one on the fifth.”
Especially the one on the fourth floor.
I told him to raise a cat, and he left after saying he would take control of the Royal Knights for me.
……Compared to that, I’m nothing.
“And there’s another one at the Siegfried mansion. The moment someone asks Demirea if she has a fiancé, she’ll think of me.”
Whether as payment for the shield she provided or for the bananas he had given her, she was bound to offer up Calian’s name.
“That is quite curious,” Alan said with a short chuckle. “His Majesty’s sons and the daughter of someone like Suleiman are all so extraordinary. I wonder if it’s right to find this so amusing.”
Veronica, the granddaughter of the genius mage Alan Manasil, was a perfectly ordinary girl and mage. Since none of these children resembled their parents, how could one not find it fascinating?
“At any rate, His Majesty also agreed it would be best to leave the matter as it is, so keep that in mind.”
“Ah, he already approved? What a relief.”
“Yes. And…” Alan paused, activating Silent magic before continuing. “His Majesty has permitted Count Aprin’s knights to remain.”
“Ah, then that works out perfectly,” Calian said, a meaningful expression on his face.
“What works out perfectly?”
Facing Alan’s confused gaze, Calian recounted the conversation he had just had with Franz.
“Prince Franz offered to step forward like that?”
“Yes. It’s almost surprising how proactive he’s being.”
“It’s not a bad thing. After going through such an ordeal, he likely needs to focus his mind elsewhere.”
He was referring to the incident with Silike. Since Franz had to continue living in the very palace where it had happened, it was only natural that he would need a distraction.
“Yes. As you said, it’s not a bad thing. In any case, I’ll find a good time to gradually bring the Count’s knights into the capital. To do that, I’ll need to meet with Demirea today.”
“You won’t delay even a single day?”
“There’s no reason to. Besides, time is precious.”
This wasn’t a mere knick from chopping carrots. Calian had truly come close to death, and his face was still pale. Yet, he refused to rest. As much as he claimed time was precious, he was pushing himself to the absolute limit.
Clink.
Staring quietly at the teacup he had just set down, Alan spoke.
“Your Highness.”
“Yes, Teacher.”
After calling his name, Alan remained silent for a long moment. Only when the opaque tea stopped swirling and settled did his next words emerge.
“Why do you wish to go to Camillon?”
“That is, of course…”
The reason I had to turn back time. Because what ‘that’ was has not yet been fully revealed. So, regardless of what it was, shouldn’t I possess the power to deal with it?
Instead of repeating the words he had already said, or joking about going there to raise a dog, Calian quietly closed his mouth. He knew Alan wasn’t asking because he didn’t know the answer.
Seeing his reaction, Alan asked again. “Your Highness, what is it that you truly wish to achieve?”
If it is necessary to stop what is coming, I will even ascend the throne.
Calian had said as much on the day they first met. But that was a plan for the sake of others, not for himself.
“Have you ever thought about what you will do, Your Highness, after you have successfully protected everything you wish to protect?”
Calian smiled softly.
No answer followed.
* * *
“What brings you here?” Chase asked, surprised by the unexpected visitor. He then added, clearly mimicking something Franz had once said, “My little brother’s current older brother.”
We aren’t close enough to joke around like this, Franz thought, making no effort to hide his annoyance. “We need to talk.”
“Sure. Come in.” Chase gestured him inside.
Franz strode in, sat in a chair by the window, and crossed his legs. As soon as Chase sat opposite him, Franz began to speak.
“An army composed entirely of mages might be possible to create, but it’s difficult to execute a proper offensive with them. Therefore, the solution we came up with is…”
His voice was languid, his tone as casual as if he were describing his pet cat. Yet, the content of his words was anything but light.
“How about we talk about the weather before getting to the main point, Prince Franz?”
“Just listen.”
Talking was tedious enough already; now he was supposed to discuss the weather? Having never done such a thing in his life, Franz completely ignored Chase’s bewilderment. He began rattling off information, including the structure and training methods of the Valkan that he had pieced together.
There were no detailed explanations. Franz believed that Chase would understand even without them.
Or perhaps he already knew.
“…If done that way, even Secritia, which has few mages, could produce a highly effective army.”
Chase, who had been watching Franz with fascination, as if the prince were pouring out half a year’s worth of words at once, spoke after he had finished.
“This is classified information. Are you sure you should be telling me this?”
Seeing the look on Chase’s face, which seemed to ask if he even realized what he had just said, Franz smirked.
“I don’t care.”
“I don’t know why you’re suddenly telling me this, but you’ve wasted your breath. I believe I already made my stance clear. I consider everything I remember to be power that Prince Calian must hold.”
On the day he had visited Franz, Chase had stated that he would not change the future. Everything Calian knew was power that belonged to him alone.
“The same goes for Kairis’s mage corps. I…”
“Do it. You too.”
Franz’s eyes held a sharp keenness, like cold moonlight.
“I am not someone who would start a war over something trivial.”
So if you know something, move with us.
That was what he was saying.