Chapter 140: Cornerstone of Understanding (7)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 140: Cornerstone of Understanding (7)
He remembered Lemain's voice, drifting from behind a stack of documents.
It was back when he was struggling to hold his poisoned body together, waiting for Alan to arrive. It was also the day he had first worn the Prince's Formal Attire.
And it was a time when he endured the feeling of his heart being torn out at least once a day, holding on not to save Franz, but to stop himself from killing him.
Back then, Calian could never have imagined he would one day strive so desperately to keep both Lemain and Franz alive.
That was why he wanted to understand Randel.
Because although it seemed unimaginable now, he might one day find himself struggling to keep Randel alive, too.
'If Crown Prince Chase knew I was doing this, he would be quite surprised.'
At the sudden thought, Calian smiled bitterly.
After all, wasn't he Bern, whose sword had always been faster than his words?
Of course, the situation now was vastly different, but he had never expected to interfere to this extent.
"I was a bit worried, but this is a relief," Calian said.
He addressed the blue eyes that had already suppressed a fleeting flash of anger.
"I was worried your expression wouldn't change even when I touched the roses, Brother Randel. It seems you still have something left to cherish."
Calian's slender finger pointed to the rose he had just snipped.
He had acted so maliciously because anger was the easiest emotion to draw out. His life as Bern had taught him that anger was always the first hidden emotion to surface.
Randel had come to tend the rose bushes immediately after his meeting with Lemain, without even changing out of his Prince's Formal Attire. If the roses were the first thing he sought to soothe his troubled mind, Calian thought he might be able to draw out his brother's true thoughts by provoking him through them.
Perhaps if he took them away, Randel would get angry.
And if he got angry, perhaps they could finally talk.
"What is your reason?" Randel asked.
"Are you asking why I plucked the rose?"
"I am asking why you would go to such lengths to confront me."
"Because I'm curious. About what you know, and what you're hiding."
Answering in a light tone, Calian continued, "So, I wanted to have a conversation."
Whether Randel was hiding power or his true feelings, Calian decided it was time to find out.
"A conversation? You and I?"
"Is it that difficult? Nothing complicated like greed or threats. Just a brief chat."
Randel's gaze followed Calian's finger down to the fallen rose. After staring at it for a long moment, Randel spoke.
"Do not do that again."
That was the beginning of their conversation.
Calian, looking at the same rose, replied, "You prune away any rose that grows out of bounds, yet you cherish the ones that don't? They're all the same roses, no matter where they bloom."
"They have lost their usefulness."
At those words, Calian smiled once more.
Bern, too, had done his share of pruning, just like Randel. To be precise, he had been used for the pruning.
He had taken countless lives of those who posed a threat to Devlan, cutting them down regardless of age or gender. Of course, Chase knew nothing of this.
The only difference was that his targets were not rose bushes, but living, bleeding humans. In essence, what Bern did was pruning. Sometimes he did it willingly, sometimes not, but that wasn't important right now.
In any case, having done the same thing, he could understand those words.
"Can't usefulness be created?"
Saying this, Calian bent down and picked up the rose from the ground. He wasn't sure if it would suit his dreary room, and to be honest, he was getting a bit sick of roses.
But if he put it in water, it would bloom all the same.
"Just as I am considering your usefulness now, Brother Randel."
As Calian spoke, a sharp edge gleamed in his eyes.
It was a move to gain the upper hand.
Until now, Randel had always held the dominant position in their conversations, trying to keep Calian under his thumb. This time, Calian had to be the one in control.
Randel laughed.
It was as devoid of emotion as the last time, but having experienced it once, Calian was somewhat used to it.
So Calian smiled back and asked, "What is your power? What do you know?"
Randel's laughter stopped. He replied, "Is it so faint that you cannot feel it?"
A second emotion crept into Randel's voice. If one had to name it, it would be wistfulness.
Seeing that unexpected emotion flicker across Randel's face, Calian's expression stiffened. After observing his brother for a moment, his lips curved into a slow, wide smile.
"…Damn it."
A harsh curse slipped out, completely at odds with his forced smile. Randel said nothing as he watched his youngest brother swear.
The Seal of Oath.
A promise made so long ago he couldn't even remember when. Randel remained silent as Calian finally realized that the power of that promise was what bound his brother.
"Is it Tensil?"
"Yes."
After a moment of silence, Calian spoke again.
"You can't say anything?"
"Yes."
The contract was so restrictive that he couldn't even be the first to mention the Seal of Oath. A highly detailed contract made with someone who seemed far smarter than Marquis Evan Brissen.
Tensil gave Randel power, and Randel likely helped Tensil in return. And he could say absolutely nothing about it.
Calian's brow furrowed.
It was headache-inducing enough that his second brother had blindly accepted a shackle, but now his eldest brother was in a mess, too.
After staring at Randel for a long while, Calian asked, "Is it because of Brissen? You tried to have the Holy Knights attack them. Did you make the contract to destroy Brissen?"
If so, things would get complicated.
Calian was currently trying to keep Brissen alive.
Randel did not answer. Traces of tangled emotions appeared and vanished on his face. Seeing this, Calian spoke quietly.
"Or… surely not. Does your resentment reach as far as His Majesty?"
Did he make a Seal of Oath with Tensil to drag Lemain down? And does he need the sword of Calian, who also lost his mother?
"You can't speak of that either?"
The deep, abyssal blue eyes quietly stared into the red eyes, whose depths seemed to hover between life and death.
"I am tired."
After giving this reply, Randel walked straight back toward Chermil Palace. Calian watched him go, a long, heavy sigh escaping his lips.
*
This feeling… no matter how he looked at it…
Franz frowned slightly.
He felt an unusual energy radiating from Kyrie as they clashed swords.
Whether he should consider it a pity or a relief, that energy was not Aura. Nor was it fighting spirit.
Franz parried Kyrie's downward strike with a forceful upward block and took a step back. Then, he spoke quietly.
"Stop."
Kyrie, who had been staring at Franz in silence, withdrew his sword. "I apologize."
It was killing intent.
Franz quietly stared at Kyrie, who had unintentionally released it, and sheathed his sword.
The sparring session had gone on too long.
Franz was quick to read Kyrie's movements and predict his next attack, while Kyrie possessed senses that went beyond the ordinary, allowing him to pinpoint Franz's blade.
In a real fight, Franz would stand no chance, but since Kyrie was holding back considerably for the spar, their clash had dragged on. Eventually, his control had slipped.
It wasn't hard for Franz to realize why Kyrie, caught up in the spar, had let his killing intent leak out.
"Did you also know what my younger brother was hiding?"
"…I apologize."
The servant who had visited the day Calian drank the poison. The first spar they had after Chase arrived, when Franz realized Calian was shaken. And now, this killing intent.
What was the connection?
Did that servant 'know', or had he 'heard'?
The thoughts flowed like simple curiosity rather than a conscious effort to recall.
—Stop thinking right there.
At the voice that suddenly echoed in his mind, Franz abandoned the thought and took another step back. Watching his reaction, Kyrie spoke quietly.
"I think it would be best for you to spar with Prince Calian for the time being."
Since Kyrie seemed worried about losing control again, Franz nodded. Seeing this, Kyrie continued.
"The Prince does not blame you, Prince Franz. I hope you do not misunderstand."
His voice was slightly lower than usual. It was unclear whether he was speaking to Franz or trying to control himself after showing killing intent.
Remembering the murderous blade that had flown toward him just moments ago, one corner of Franz's mouth curled upward.
"I know my younger brother doesn't blame me. But you certainly do."
Kyrie gave a small nod. He didn't deny it.
"My ears are sharp. Even Prince Calian does not know that I am aware of your circumstances, Prince Franz." He then added, "The Prince has told me nothing about you. I simply overheard your conversations while standing guard outside."
Franz let out a hollow laugh.
He couldn't tell how much Calian had let slip, whether intentionally or not. Just as he had thought when facing Chase, it felt like it would be faster to count those who didn't know the secret.
"If you're planning to point your sword at me, do it now."
Franz spoke with an expression that made it clear he wouldn't block the blade this time. Seeing this, Kyrie replied in a calm voice.
"I will do so when the Prince wishes it."
A smirk touched Franz's lips once more.
"Suit yourself."
With that, he left the training ground without a backward glance, leaving Kyrie standing alone in the center.
*
Knights blocked Calian's path.
"We are sorry, Your Highness."
They were the knights guarding the main gate of Chermil Palace. Standing rigidly before Calian, one of them spoke.
"You are not permitted to leave the grounds today."
After Randel had disappeared back into Chermil Palace, Calian had stood still for a long time. Finally, he turned from the rose garden and headed not for the palace, but for the main gate.
A flustered Yan quickly followed behind him, but Calian said nothing.
Yan recognized that Calian didn't look angry, flustered, or surprised, but rather deeply lost in thought. For now, he simply followed in silence.
"I must go out," Calian said.
The knights spoke once more. "We are truly sorry, but…"
"Then try and stop me."
If you think you can.
A faint trace of killing intent flickered in Calian's eyes, carrying the unspoken threat.
Fortunately, the knights facing him did not make the mistake of hesitating or stepping back. Nor did they instinctively reach for the swords at their waists.
"Step aside. I will speak to His Majesty myself."
Saying this, Calian took another step forward.
When the knights still didn't budge, Yan, standing behind him, spoke up.
"I will make sure he does not leave the Royal Palace, so please step aside."
He then stood behind Calian and made a subtle gesture over his own head—a silent warning that their 'flower-like' prince was in a thorny mood and they should move before someone got hurt.
Only after seeing this did the knights reluctantly part to the left and right.
"Thank you. And sorry."
Leaving them with those brief words, Calian hurried on his way.
"Your Highness, are you going to see Count Manasil?" Yan finally asked.
Calian shook his head, maintaining his rapid pace. A quiet reply followed.
"Rubia Hall. There is something I must confirm."
And he quickened his steps to meet Chase, who was staying in the annex.