Chapter 135: Cornerstone of Understanding (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 135: Cornerstone of Understanding (3)
The sparkling ripples of the lake, beautiful in the morning sun, danced outside the window.
The view was particularly striking today, which was the only reason it caught Calian’s attention. He and Franz were in the second-floor dining room, and there was only one reason they had bothered to come all this way just to eat.
“I heard you have begun learning the sword from the third prince.”
It was because of Lemain, who had suddenly announced he would be joining them at Chermil Palace for breakfast.
As a result, Calian, a lover of his morning sleep, had been forced to drag himself from bed at the crack of dawn. He imagined it hadn’t been much different for Franz.
Randel, meanwhile, did not show up, citing a severe cold.
‘Tell him I will stop by for a moment after breakfast.’
Instead of reprimanding Randel for his attitude, Lemain had simply said that. He had continued eating in silence until he finally brought up the swordsmanship training.
Franz quietly set down his glass of water and gave a brief reply.
“Yes, that is correct.”
To say he had “begun learning” was a stretch. Only a single day—or more accurately, a single night—had passed, and all they had done was spar twice. The second match had ended without their blades even clashing once.
It had ended with a flash of light and a wound just a little deeper than the last.
“I see. I am glad to hear that the two of you are getting along.”
Getting along, he says.
Calian and Franz’s hands paused in unison before moving again. Franz kept his eyes fixed on his plate, passing the burden of a response to Calian.
He simply couldn’t think of a suitable way to describe his relationship with his insane younger brother. Perhaps he was worried he might blurt out that the Crown Prince of Secritia was the only person in the world who could possibly get along with such a lunatic. Besides, after hearing the word “bark” thrown around so often lately, he couldn’t exactly say his little brother had a tendency to bite.
Glancing at Franz, Calian answered Lemain.
“Yes. We get along… very well.”
For someone who claimed to be a terrible liar, the words flowed with remarkable ease.
“It is good of you to look after your brother’s swordsmanship when you should be focusing on your own training. Just be careful not to hurt each other.”
Calian chuckled inwardly.
So that’s why he paid us a visit.
He must have heard that Hina had visited the training grounds after their spar last night and had come out of concern for Franz. He wanted to see if Calian—who had a talent, or rather, a love for breaking things—had gone too far.
“Yes, Your Highness. You needn’t worry.”
Of course, Calian had a hunch about the real, unspoken reason for the visit, but he pretended not to notice and offered a bright smile.
Seeing that smile, which sparkled like the lake outside, Lemain nodded in relief. Franz merely took another sip of water.
Others might not have noticed, but Calian knew exactly how many unspoken words Franz was swallowing down with that water. Hidden on his lap, Calian’s fingertip traced a curve on his thigh—his own way of smiling while his face remained serious.
“Is your body feeling alright? I worry you might be overexerting yourself.”
Only now, watching Calian eat his breakfast so heartily with a perfectly healthy-looking face, did Lemain remember that his third son had nearly died just a few days ago.
Rather than point out that the king’s concerns were a bit out of order, Calian simply replied in a reassuring tone once more.
“I am completely healed.”
…So it seems.
“That is truly a relief.”
Fortunately, Lemain’s spoken response differed from his inner thoughts. He gazed intently into Calian’s eyes and continued, “Even after your confinement is lifted, be absolutely sure never to go outside alone.”
His use of such strong phrasing made it clear that even after the punishment ended, the king had no intention of dismissing his escort knights. When Calian’s face fell slightly, Lemain added with a faint smile:
“You may go as far as the Royal Forest, so if you feel too stifled, you can take a walk there.”
“Yes, Your Highness. Thank you.”
“Very well.”
It was a concession for Calian, who, like a restless puppy, couldn’t stay put for a moment. The Royal Forest was a relatively small wood located north of the palace—a place neither the current Calian nor the original had ever visited.
“By the way, Franz. You look thinner than when I last saw you. Are you unwell?”
“No. I am fine.”
“You must eat well. You are at an age where you are still growing.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Calian, who had been smiling while listening to the trivial conversation, slowly turned his head.
Beyond the beautiful scenery outside the window, a pair of red eyes seemed to flicker for a moment.
Ah…
The smile vanished from Calian’s face as if it had been wiped away.
An ordinary morning. The start of a day no different from yesterday. A conversation with no hidden meanings. This mundane peace had been so comforting that Calian had almost forgotten what he must never lose sight of. He had almost let himself be happy.
How happy you would have been if you were here.
A wave of guilt, as sharp as the fleeting happiness he had almost felt, washed over him. Calian stared at the window for a long time, quietly gazing at the jewel-like eyes reflected in the bright glass.
…Calian.
* * *
“Meow!”
The cat—its belly once again plump and its official identity being ‘Prince Calian’s cat who actually prefers Prince Franz’—lifted a paw and tugged at Franz’s hand. It was sleepy but couldn’t quite drift off, and it demanded to be petted immediately.
Seeing the cat, which had not only climbed onto his lap and made it impossible to cross his legs but was still demanding more, Franz let out a dry chuckle. He slowly moved his hand to stroke its head.
As he quietly watched the two different-colored eyes lazily close, another voice drifted from across the room. It was his brother’s—flat and dry, a stark contrast to the cat’s affectionate meow.
“Don’t feel too disappointed about His Highness’s visit.”
Franz’s own way of speaking often lacked context, and Calian was always abrupt. After a moment of pondering the intent behind the words, Franz replied in a low voice.
“I’m not. I don’t care.”
Yet, the conversation flowed smoothly, precisely because it was between them. With anyone else, such a disjointed exchange could never have proceeded so naturally.
“I see.”
In any case, what Calian was telling him not to be disappointed about was the reason for Lemain’s visit. The real reason the king had come, putting on a show of worrying about Franz getting hurt when he’d never bothered to visit when either of them was actually sick.
Randel.
Lemain had likely come to see Randel, using his second and third sons as an excuse. Otherwise, there was no reason for him to insist on visiting the supposedly ill Randel right after confirming that Franz was safe and hadn’t been beaten to a pulp by Calian.
That was why Calian had told him not to be disappointed. Disappointed that Lemain had an entirely different motive for visiting.
“Meow…”
Realizing Franz’s hand had stopped, the cat let out a lazy whine, once again demanding attention. Urged on by the creature, which wouldn’t even give him a moment to sip his tea, Franz’s hand began to move again.
“Still, he must have been genuinely worried about you, Brother.”
Franz knew full well that Lemain had changed. He didn’t deny it. He just nodded and retorted, “That’s because my dear little brother is so vicious.”
Then, he frowned slightly. He wasn’t in the best of moods, having been cut in the exact same spot twice. After a brief silence, Franz glared at Calian.
He knew exactly why Calian, who had stubbornly followed him to his room after breakfast, was suddenly offering such uncharacteristically considerate words.
Franz spoke curtly.
“Apologize.”
“I’m sorry.”
The apology came instantly, as if prepared beforehand. Franz nodded.
That was the end of it.
He didn’t even ask why.
Calian had done something wrong, Franz demanded an apology, Calian apologized, and Franz accepted. Nothing more was needed. Of course, if Hina had witnessed the scene, she would have found it utterly absurd.
“When are you meeting Marquis Brissen?”
“Today.”
Calian nodded. “Do you know exactly why you are meeting him?”
Calian hadn’t yet explained the other reason he had blown up Heisia Palace. He assumed Franz would have figured it out on his own.
“I know,” Franz replied simply.
Instead of asking for confirmation, Calian merely smiled. He knew Franz would handle it well.
“Once you return, learn from Kyrie today. I have other matters to attend to. Besides, Kyrie will be a better match for you than me right now.”
Calian’s sword was fast and sharp. Suleiman’s swordsmanship was heavy and powerful. Franz was somewhere in between—heavier than Calian, yet swifter than Suleiman.
Kyrie was the perfect sparring partner for his initial training. His swordsmanship was lighter and swifter than Franz’s, but heavier than Calian’s. Furthermore, teaching someone would be a great help to Kyrie’s own development.
Franz simply nodded, saying nothing more.
* * *
Marquis Evan Brissen did not look well.
Although he had endured many hardships over the past year, he had likely never experienced such intense mental distress.
After Silike was deposed, about one in ten nobles supporting Brissen had turned their backs. The only reason the exodus stopped there was because they still had Franz. However, the situation worsened when Gray caused trouble and Calian joined hands with Siegfried.
This latest incident was the worst disaster imaginable for Brissen.
One in five.
One in five of his supporters was slipping away. It was glaringly obvious that they were quietly cutting ties and avoiding him.
Valkan!
It was all because of Calian.
Not only had Heisia Palace collapsed in an instant, but Lemain’s punishment had been excessively lenient. In the eyes of the nobles, this could only be seen as a sign of the king’s absolute favor toward Calian.
“I doubt the situation is looking good,” Franz said the moment they met.
Evan couldn’t help but nod.
Seeing this, one corner of Franz’s mouth curled upward.
“I’m speechless, watching you get played by Siegfried’s half-grown elephant.”
And whose fault do you think that is?!
Franz directed his words at Evan, whose eyes practically screamed, Why on earth did you crawl in there at that hour and make such a mess?
“If I take up the sword, I think we can turn this around. What do you think?”
“What exactly do you mean to do?”
If he had been speaking to Calian, that would have been enough, but unfortunately, Evan was not so quick-witted. Frustrated at having to spell it out, Franz laid out his plan in an irritated tone.
“Hand over command of Knight Order Karen and the Knights of Raon to me. I will split Valkan in two.”
At his confident declaration, Evan’s brow furrowed slightly. Seeing this, Franz said with a languid expression, “You don’t believe me.”
“No, Your Highness. It is not that I don’t believe you, but…” Evan trailed off, falling silent for a moment as he pondered his options.
After a long pause, a sly smile spread across his face. “I will give you command of the knights. In exchange…”
Pointing to his own heart, Evan finished, “You must make a promise under the Seal of Oath. That no matter what happens, you will never betray Brissen.”
The Seal of Oath. A contract that would constrict the heart of anyone who broke their promise.
“You’re telling me to wager my heart.”
Instead of handing Franz the hilt of a sword, Evan was demanding his life. He was saying he couldn’t be trusted otherwise.
Looking at Evan, a smile appeared on Franz’s lips for the first time in a very long while. It was a bright, innocent smile that looked exactly like Silike’s had in the past.
“Do it.”
A trivial thing like that.
It’s not worth saving anyway.