Chapter 14: Until I Have a Proper Card (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 14: Until I Have a Proper Card (1)
The Senyu River.
It was the river that flowed through Kairisis, the capital of Kairis. This river, which also lent its name to one of the palace buildings, cut diagonally across the capital. The Royal Palace was situated in the center of the northeastern region, and the Royal Road, stretching from the main gate of the outer castle in southwestern Kairisis, crossed the Senyu River and led all the way to its gates.
After the death of Hatsuara and the departure of Sispanian, it was the construction of the Royal Road that had revived the stagnant nation. It was an incredibly important piece of infrastructure, so much so that many said the kingdom owed its resurgence to the wide roads connecting its major cities.
Clop, clop, clop…!
Upon that very Royal Road, two carriages—one white, one black—were heading toward the Royal Palace.
Traveling side by side, both carriages were incomparably luxurious. Their shimmering exterior walls, coated with a mixture of pearl powder, were fitted with large glass windows.
The only difference was their decoration: one was adorned with gold leaf on a white background, the other with mother-of-pearl on a black background.
However, mother-of-pearl was exceptionally rare in Kairis. Though the kingdom occupied a vast portion of the continent, the one thing it lacked was an ocean. Pearls were easily obtainable from freshwater cultivation, but the iridescent shells used for mother-of-pearl were another story entirely. As a result, it was said that in Kairis, mother-of-pearl was more expensive than gold.
The massive carriage, so openly adorned with such a precious material, drew endless stares. Naturally, this deeply displeased the passenger in the white carriage to its right. The man clicked his tongue as he peered out the window at his black-lacquered counterpart.
“Look at that. It’s practically a rolling pile of money. Isn’t that far too extravagant?”
Hearing this through the small hatch connecting to the driver’s seat, the butler sitting beside the coachman thought to himself:
Does he think gold leaf is cheap? And is he really in a position to lecture anyone on extravagance right now?
If the carriage hadn’t been carrying a pair of shoes encrusted with top-grade diamonds imported from Tensil, the butler would never have dared to entertain such thoughts about his master.
Engraved on the exterior of the white carriage was the crest of a griffin clutching a sharp sword. It belonged to the House of Marquis Brissen, the family of Queen Silike. The man riding inside was Lennon Brissen, second son of the Marquis and head of the Brissen Trading Company.
“Could the owner be a Siegfried? No, those elephant-sized brutes would never do something so gaudy.”
The elephants of Kairis.
It was a nickname for the Siegfrieds. Though they had never once coveted the throne, their power was so immense that they were likened to herbivores that even predators dared not touch.
Since no family besides the Siegfrieds was wealthy enough to afford such a carriage, Lennon, unable to guess the owner’s identity, spoke again, his curiosity getting the better of him.
“Who on earth plastered that much money onto a carriage?”
The butler answered cautiously through the hatch.
“I saw it emerge from the direction of Teinansha Street a moment ago. However, the crest is on the opposite side, so I cannot be certain which family it belongs to…”
“Teinansha Street?”
“Yes. It is where the mages gather.”
At the butler’s polite explanation, Lennon frowned and snapped back.
“Do you think I asked because I didn’t know? Why are you so slow-witted?”
After shaming the butler with a rebuke that would have made Silike or Calian scoff, Lennon parted the curtain once more to peer at the black carriage. Its windows were also covered by thick curtains, making it impossible to see who was inside.
“Is there a mage with that kind of wealth?”
“Shall we check the family crest on the other side?”
“Yes. Do that.”
At his master’s command, the butler relayed the instructions to the coachman.
Soon, Lennon’s white carriage slowed, falling behind the black one before accelerating to catch up on its opposite side. Lennon quickly reached out and pulled back his window curtain.
The crest engraved on the carriage wall slowly came into view. Lennon squinted, trying to make it out.
“What a complicated crest. What is that, a flower? One, two flowers…”
The carriage moved slightly further ahead, revealing the crest in its entirety. Only then did Lennon, having gotten a clear look, rub his eyes vigorously.
He let out an incredulous mumble. “Am I seeing things…?”
“It is seven red flowers and a silver staff, Viscount Brissen.”
“Do you think I don’t know that? Shut your mouth!”
Seven red flowers and a silver staff!
“What on earth is going on? Ah… this is crazy. This is a disaster. Why is that man here, in Kairis? And why is he going to the Royal Palace?”
Since he had no idea whose crest it was and had been ordered to keep quiet, the butler simply blinked and stared straight ahead.
The two carriages also passed through Einansha Street, where the nobility resided. Consequently, other nobles besides Lennon caught wind of the expensive black mother-of-pearl carriage heading toward the Royal Palace.
“You’re saying it looked like vines of blooming red flowers wrapping around a silver staff?”
“Yes. That was the crest engraved on it.”
Upon hearing the description, the nobles questioned their servants, each of whom confidently confirmed what they had seen.
The nobles all waved their hands dismissively, saying the same thing.
“You must have misseen it.”
No way, surely not.
“There’s no way Alan Manasil would come here.”
But immediately after offering those casual smiles, they threw aside whatever they were doing and scrambled to prepare for a trip to the Royal Palace.
* * *
The third day of the festival. 9:30 AM.
Arriving at the Royal Palace under the intense watch of many, Alan showed the invitation he had received from the King and proudly entered through the open gates. There was no longer any need to check whether the threshold of a closed gate was high or low.
Alan’s crest, engraved on the exterior of the black mother-of-pearl carriage, was highly visible even from afar. The Chief Chamberlain, who had been greeting nobles paying their morning respects, hurriedly informed King Lemain, who was on his way to his office.
“Your Majesty. I am told that Alan Manasil has just arrived at the palace.”
Lemain stopped in his tracks.
Alan Manasil. One of only three 7th Circle mages on the continent.
Yet, unlike the other two, he was a proud and fiercely independent individual who had never permanently settled in any nation.
Lemain knew all too well the power his name carried. Calian’s words—that obtaining Alan would make him a candidate for the throne—were no exaggeration.
Lemain, for whom twenty-four hours a day was insufficient to run a massive country, and who had never wasted even five minutes on his princes, replied immediately.
“Guide him straight to my office.”
Thanks to this, Alan did not need to transfer to a smaller palace carriage. He was able to ride his own magnificent vehicle directly to the Arpia Palace, where Lemain awaited.
9:30 AM. The time seemed entirely intentional.
Coincidentally, a great number of nobles were gathered in front of the Arpia Palace at that very hour.
There were royal officials leisurely heading to work at Narsil Hall, their schedules delayed by the festival; envoys returning to Rubia Hall after lunch with the foreign affairs officer; and nobles just stepping out from their audience with the King.
“Is that not Alan Manasil’s crest?”
“Ah… I heard his contract with Libern had ended.”
The crowd of nobles watched with their own eyes as the black mother-of-pearl carriage, destined to bring a storm to Kairis, came to a silent halt.
“But why has he come to Kairis? Remaining in Libern would have been far more comfortable for him.”
“How could he be comfortable after that ordeal? If not for his relationship with the King of Libern, he probably would have left long ago.”
“Hmm? Ah, yes. I hadn’t thought of that…”
The carriage door opened.
The nobles, who had been whispering about the purpose of Alan’s visit, fell silent in an instant.
As if waiting for the hush, a single mage slowly stepped out. When his unique hair—silver at the roots and red at the tips—was revealed in the sunlight, the nobles’ jaws dropped. It was, indeed, Alan Manasil.
Stepping down from the carriage, Alan leisurely surveyed his surroundings.
In place of the rags he had worn on the first day, he was now dressed in a red robe, magnificently embroidered with gold thread depicting the symbol of the 7th Circle. His sharp eyes gleamed coldly, and a haughty smile played upon his thin lips.
A middle-aged man approached and offered a polite bow.
“Welcome, Sir Manasil. I am Raul Hart, the Chief Chamberlain serving His Majesty the King. His Majesty is waiting, so I shall escort you immediately.”
Lemain’s intention in sending the Chief Chamberlain himself was clear, and the nobles began to buzz once more. Of course, Alan was accustomed to such hospitality. With a look of utter familiarity, he nodded and entered the palace.
“Is he truly planning to settle in Kairis?”
“What other reason could there be? Surely the great Alan Manasil wouldn’t come all this way just to celebrate His Majesty’s birthday.”
All sorts of theories filled the nobles’ minds.
It was only natural. With Alan Manasil visiting Lemain, who lived under the oppressive shadow of Queen Silike, they were on high alert, anxious to see what would happen next.
“Please, this way.”
Once they were in the hallway, out of public view, the corner of Alan’s mouth twitched slightly as he stared at the back of Raul’s head.
The image of his new disciple, smiling brightly, came to mind.
“Come at exactly 9:30 AM. Of course, this time, you must come through the ‘open gate.’”
On those instructions, Alan had donned the burdensome robe from the Mage Union—which he had never worn before—and boarded the massive carriage given to him as a parting gift by the King of Libern. And so he had arrived, passing through the wide-open gates of the palace.
Arriving at the exact time Calian had specified, when countless nobles were gathered near the Arpia Palace, Alan let out a silent chuckle.
My disciple certainly intended to advertise far and wide that he has reeled me in.
Soon, the door to Lemain’s office opened, and Alan stepped inside.
Lemain was sitting on a reception sofa, his hands empty. Alan greeted him with the same expression and tone he had used with Calian.
“I am Alan Manasil.”
Lemain gave a slight nod in acknowledgement.
Although Alan looked incredibly young, Lemain already knew the mage was much older than himself, so he was not surprised as Calian had been.
“Yes. Come, have a seat.”
Lemain raised a hand, gesturing to the sofa opposite him. Without hesitation, Alan walked over and sat down. While Lemain organized his thoughts, gazing at Alan with deep, thoughtful eyes, Alan picked up the tea that had been served and took a sip.
“I heard about what happened on the first day. Allow me to apologize on behalf of the palace.”
“What happened on the first day…”
Muttering to himself, Alan smiled gently. “Which part of it are you apologizing for?”
Lemain’s eyes narrowed.
The question’s underlying meaning was not as gentle as its tone. The only incident at the palace had been the guard’s rudeness; Lemain had assumed Alan would know the apology was for that. Yet Alan was asking him to specify. He was probing to see just how much the King knew.
“I was only told enough to know that I do not know the reason for your visit. I have not heard anything else from the Third Prince.”
Just as Duke Suleiman had predicted, Lemain had asked Calian nothing. Or rather, it was more accurate to say he could not ask. Thus, Lemain knew nothing beyond the fact that Calian had chased after Alan when the mage had turned back in anger.
“In that case, there is no need for an apology. Our conversation was pleasant, and I received an explanation regarding the incident at the main gate. Well, it would be more accurate to say I was scolded not to make a fuss over nothing, but in any case, the matter was resolved.”
A flicker of doubt crossed Lemain’s face.
He wondered if he had heard correctly—that Calian had scolded Alan. Before he could ask, Alan continued.
“Your Majesty. Is there a house in Kairis where I might stay?”
At the sudden, direct shift to the main topic, Lemain’s mind began to race.